The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-24
TIE MOATEAGlE SCHOOL.
WORK IN HOT WEATHER AT THE
SOUTHERN CHAUrAUQUA.
A Visit to the kindergarten Depart
ment-How the Young Idea
Is Taught TO Shoot.

Seven days OF hot weather, and still
the thermometer will not down." l
heard a clever French woman say
yesterday that she thought the bad
place, with its unpopular namc Of
hell, must get its heat from tho alb
sent weather that is talked of always
in the same formula ut watering
places. They always say, We never
had such weather before, you know.
People go from home to get cool;
really they expect to evade summer,
but summer is everywhere, aud these
days are framed into memory. The
news of the week here. If we in
cluded all the new bright conclusions
in the schools, on the platform, on
cottage steps, in the amphitheater,
would gil n fair sized pamphlet, but
spase iorbids. DIR. A. j. Battles
lectures on philosophy, DR. Basker-
villes Shakespearean class and
Anglo. Saxon, the departments Of
science and art each sustained aud
governed by thinking, practical in
structors, are all attracting atten-
ton from the thoroughness Of
their work aud freshness Of
method. The summer law
school is thriving, although
not as many students are enrolled as
the lectures deserve. Music really
holds sway in point OF numbers, aud
practice Is possible 70 tho band Of
earnest students. There are new
students in The wood carving class.
Shorthand aud machine stenography
are taught. A paper is being pub
lished, aud the days events swing
round the pivotal point that is an
nouuced rs the. morning lecture
smoothly aud enjoyably. But Of all
the work the kindergarten is most
interesting. There are thirty.six
little girls and boys, each provided
with little tables and benches, and
the Children's Temple that has been
q schoolroOm, part OF the time open TO
special students, small gatherings,
etc., is now claimed Tor the children
exclusively every morning. A knowl-
edge OF the scientific system, 80
simple seemingly, by which the young
mind is al 10 TO begin the first pro-
cesses OF reelection upon things seen
aud done, is not generally under
stood. To complete the course fully
two years would be necessary. To
understand the great possibility TO
be hoped for in a general introduce
ton OF the system, one must take
n little time TO look at the OK
am pies Of work. The teacher begins
with point, pricked in paper with
q pen. This prioking can be used 10
form needle holes TO work through,
also 10 rive by working from the
wrong side q raised part TO represent
anything desired. The next is TO
draw lines from ono TO another Of tho
periorations with bright worsted.
Perpendicular, horizontal standing
lines are combined, adapted, etc.,
until ideas In regular sequence have
grown to grasp principle, form, com-
bination, exaotitude, numbers, etc.
Not alone valuable is IL merely TO
give a hold upon tho technicalities,
but interest increases with each los.
son. Little fingers taught the Gun
ming TO create aud he mind is eager
10 find new combinations; thus in-
yention ensucs. In regular order
after sewing, comes wearing. Bright
colored stripes, fastened TO Fat
needles are runin aud out by twos,
threes aud so on; color adaptation
aud application ensuo in a natural
order. saw made from one single
square Of paper by folding sixteen
different designs or things Of beauty.
Regular sequence is the only way TO
progress the little child soon ends
from this, for II one fold be omitted
or carelessly done the whole
il spoiled. To develop the physical,
moral and mental nature tho three
fold unity Ia the object Of the teach
or. Little games are taught by imi-
,ation uses OF arms, feet and fingers.
Practice and failures show the ncces-
sity OF eIactitudc. Songs OF senti-
ment awaken and stimulate the emo
tions.
All IL 40 varied, 80 pleasant. One
thing grows from another NO
smoothly aud naturally that instead
OF meaningless heiroglyphios the
child knows from Actuality not only
how TO count, calculate, iit, deduct,
but Is made master OF the first forms
OF the mathematical sciences. In
looking over the folded designs |
came across this little picture. A
square was Table Cloth" folded
il became a Windmill" another
folding aud "Papa's Cigar Case" was
made. Then the teacher said. Sup
pose we wish " take q sail, here Is
tho boat, :" folding the paper).
suppose we catch some FISH and
put 10 this box But VIC have no
many, let Us make another" and the
boat had one on either side. Along
the bank, arc some flowers, let US
turn our boat into a wise for
mamma and gather some We look
mp and there is q Flying bird,
(another iold). Away over there
i SEQ "sailboat." us not
this a romantic picture TO be
mirrored 10 clear water2" Here is
a mirror" Aud now let US frame
the whole 10 picture frame" The
ten forms conveyed a pleasant
picture, exciting reflection for out Of
one came another oxaotness, for no
part must fail, permanonce Of i'm.
preston for the illustrations were
tangible. / saw one square Of paper
folded into one hundred and six
forms, distinct and beautiful.
"A king = crown, said the teacher;
"and IL were we'll also every queen
have a crown, not exactly the same,
but equally significant. Questions
skilliully put, draw from the child
m answor--set the mind 10 motion.
The practice from It's gradual steps
forward clears the mind Of confusion
aud prepares II for one Of It's grand
est triumphs, that Of realizing that
the seeming is not always the true.